Everton have seen off determined interest from Chelsea and Manchester United to secure the long-term future of teenage sensation Ross Barkley.

The youth international has been described as a "future England player" by manager David Moyes.

And the Goodison club have now backed that faith by giving the exciting young star a new four-and-a-half year contract that secures his services until 2016.

Both United and Chelsea have kept tabs on the midfielder since he emerged as a precocious 16-year-old on the verge of the Everton squad.

But Moyes never had any doubts about the player committing his future to the club...or any doubts about his talent.

"Ross is going to be an outstanding player, he has the talent to go on and play for England," the Scot said recently.

"I always said every club will want Ross because of his talent, but if they're going to come to try to take our better players we don't sell cheap, that's for sure. And we've no intention of selling.

"I think we've got the team to carry Ross. Maybe when we had Wayne Rooney I didn't think we could hang onto someone of that talent, at that period, but the club is in a much better position with Ross."

Barkley signed the new contract immediately after reaching his 18th birthday.

He explained he has committed in the long term because he believes Moyes will get the best out him.

"It can be frustrating because I want to play all the time but I am still only very young and the manager knows what he's doing and what's best for me," he said.

"He's had young players coming through before. That's what's great about Everton; the manager will always give young players the chance to play at the right time."

Barkley is likely to play against Norwich on Saturday, as Moyes looks for the creative spark to improve his side's poor goal-scoring record.